Like Ireland last weekend against Namibia, the 28-year-old centre has seen how other top-ranked teams have struggled to put the so called 'minnows' of the World Cup away over the first 40 or 60 minutes of matches.

Georgia are a tough, physical side and will have a fresh line-up, given their coach's decision to make eleven personnel changes for Saturday's game, and O'Driscoll knows they will take a lot of wearing down.

"We thought that the group might have come a bit easier than it did. But we've seen throughout the whole of this World Cup that everyone has found it difficult in the first 40 or 60 minutes against the perceived minnows.

"England struggled against the USA and even Australia found it tough against Japan in the first half hour. Some of the smaller sides have been impressive," admitted the Irish skipper.

"You just have to hold your patience and try to wear teams down and, in the last 20 minutes, take your opportunities when teams open up a bit more.

"You don't win Test matches in 20 minutes no matter who you're playing against - unless you're the All Blacks maybe!"

HICKIE: NO NEED TO PANIC: Ireland winger Denis Hickie says the poor performance against Namibia last weekend has not dented morale or confidence in the Irish World Cup camp.

Speaking on TV3's 'Rugby World Cup Weekly', the Leinster wide man said: "No, our confidence hasn't been knocked. By the sounds of things, everyone else's confidence seems to be a bit shaky.

"We've to look at these things in a different sort of light, we look at it in terms of performance and technical issues and there were a lot of technical problems in that performance (against Namibia.

"They're not things that can't be ironed out. We know we can sort the issues out - it's well within our capabilities to do that, we've done it before and we've played a lot better than that for most of the last three or four years.

"If we can do that, there's no reason why we can't achieve our objectives. Having said that, we're not being complacent or arrogant about it. If we don't perform or don't correct these things then we can't expect to get out of the group," he added.

"No one's analysing it as hard as we are or more realistic than we are about our objectives and what we need to achieve them."

BELFAST CLUBS HAVE THAT WORLD CUP FEELING:Belfast Harlequins RFC are inviting fans to come to their Deramore Park base watch Ireland's remaining Pool D matches against Georgia, France and Argentina.

Former international Gordon Hamilton, whose famous 1991 try against Australia has been replayed countless times over the past few weeks, will be at the club on Saturday to give his analysis of Ireland-Georgia game at half-time and after the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Malone RFC have organised a special promotions night at their home ground of Gibson Park for Ireland's meeting with France on Friday, September 21.

For the cost of Â£10, those attending can enjoy a pre-match dinner and post-match entertainment and also enjoy the game on the club's new big screen. For further information, please telephone Colin Wilkinson on 0044 (0) 7855327108 before next Wednesday.

SAY WHAT?:

"Within Irish rugby we are very lucky to have a phenomenal level of medical supervision. I was able to see a radiologist Steve Eustace and a consultant knee surgeon Ray Moran straight away, the top men in their field.

"All of those people, who have come in with the increased level of professionalism, have really benefited me to recover from this injury and the one prior to it."

- Ireland winger Shane Horgan on the level of medical and fitness assistance he received to get him back in the team for Saturday's game against Georgia

"We have a lot of young players in the team who learned a lot in this game and will improve a lot for the next match. The team also needed to learn to cope with the mental pressure of World Cup rugby and to think on their feet.

"We need to play with more liberty. We need to give ourselves a chance to score and not just kick the ball."

- Georgian captain Ilia Zedginidze on the lessons his side will take from their 33-3 defeat to Argentina

"Talking to some of the older lads like John Hayes and Denis Hickie has put it in perspective - they know they won't be around in New Zealand in four years' time and this is their, and this team's, last chance.

"Denis has been around for 10 years and has been through the dark days, when things were still a bit chaotic in the Irish set-up, and when he talks, you listen.

"There's no panic yet, we know we're better than we've been playing, but it's time to stop saying it and start proving it. We owe it to Eddie (O'Sullivan) and the backroom guys, we owe it to ourselves and our supporters."

- Ireland number eight Denis Leamy on the desire to put in a big performance against Georgia this weekend and right the wrongs of the game against Namibia

NUMBERS GAME:

337 - The number of caps boasted by the Georgian starting fifteen for Saturday's game against Ireland. Their most-capped player is lock and captain Ilia Zedginidze who has played 47 times for his country

8 - The number of tries Ireland scored when they beat Georgia 63-14 in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin in 2002. Brian O'Driscoll (2), Denis Hickie, Kevin Maggs, Girvan Dempsey, Simon Easterby, Alan Quinlan and Guy Easterby all touched down that day, with O'Driscoll's brace moving him to within one try of Brendan Mullin's then Irish try-scoring record (17)

590 - The distance, in kilometres, between Bordeaux's Stade Chaban Delmas, the venue for Ireland's second match of the World Cup, and the Stade de France in Saint Denis, which will host Ireland's mouth-watering Pool D clash with France on September 21

The ChildFund 'Pass It Back' Belfast Cup brought together girls from Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos with players from across Ulster to celebrate the power of sport and highlight how rugby is developing in Asia.

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Monday was a momentous day for the Ireland Women's camp as the 28-strong squad was revealed for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. Head coach Tom Tierney and captain Niamh Briggs spoke to the press at the announcement in UCD.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.

The launch of a commemorative stamp to mark the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland was a special day for Women's rugby, team captain Niamh Briggs and her family. We spoke to her and her dad Mike at the GPO.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."

Fiona Coghlan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Ambassador and Chair of the Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership, speaks about Dublin City Council's support of the tournament in August and the momentum and excitement building in the capital and around the four provinces for WRWC 2017.

Felix Jones, who is the visiting coach in Ireland camp this week, spoke to Irish Rugby TV about how 'interesting' and 'valuable' his time in Tokyo has been, and also what the transition from player to coach is like. He retired in October 2015 and is now Munster's back-line and attack coach.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."

Set for his third start of the summer tour, Ireland number 8 Jack Conan said: "We gave ourselves the objective of coming over with three good performances, and I feel like we're one away from that. It'll be another massive 80 minutes and everyone wants to finish the season on a high."

Marking the 50-day countdown, we hear from Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Tournament Director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland forwards Cliodhna Moloney and Paula Fitzpatrick as the tournament, which will be held in Dublin and Belfast from August 9 to 26, draws ever closer.

Highlights from Ireland's 50-22 first Test victory over Japan at Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka. Joe Schmidt's men ran in seven tries with two each from Keith Earls, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan, while Garry Ringrose also dotted down.

The Ireland Under-18 and Under-19 squads had a busy Easter period with seven matches played in Ashbourne, Cardiff, Llanelli, Caerphilly and Bordeaux. Check out some of the tries scored. Full match reports are available on www.irishrugby.ie.

Speaking to RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt was asked about prioritising players playing in Ireland when it comes to national selection over those who are based overseas.

In an interview broadcast on RTE Radio 1's 'Sunday Sport' programme, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the summer tour to the USA and Japan, and also looked ahead to next month's Rugby World Cup Pool Draw.

Speaking about working with the provinces and monitoring players' progress, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told RTE Radio 1: "For us, having the best quality of performance within the provinces, getting some really good coaching from the provincial coaches, which we know is happening at the moment, that's the foundation that we need because in the end we get the players in a match week pretty much."

In an interview with RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed that Girvan Dempsey, Felix Jones and Ronan O'Gara will be incorporated into the coaching group for the upcoming summer tour to the USA and Japan.